“I grew up in a glass house, and I want the same for my son.” –FRANCISCO GONZALEZ-PULIDO THE BACKGROUND The founder of renowned architectural firm FGP Atelier (fgp-atelier.com), whose award-winning projects range from Diablos Rojos Stadium in Mexico City to Starring by Ted Gibson salon in Beverly Hills, Francisco Gonzalez-Pulido was immediately drawn to 15 Country Lane, a stunningly modern, all-glass 1967 home in Northfield by noted Chicago architect Tony Grunsfeld. Nestled in a wooded neighborhood, the one-story property boasts a pool, tennis courts and a poolside pavilion perfect for entertaining. According to Gonzalez-Pulido, who had been searching for the perfect home for almost a decade, it’s one of Grunsfeld’s best projects and a remarkably modernist approach for the era, especially in regard to residential properties—an aesthetic that’s right up Gonzalez-Pulido’s alley. “The way we approach interiors is what I call an architectural approach,” says Gonzalez- Pulido. “I’m not a believer in interior design as a separate entity from architecture— interiors have to really reflect the spirit of the exteriors.” THE PRIORITY “I grew up in a glass house,” recalls Gonzalez-Pulido fondly, “and I want the same for my son.” When Gonzalez-Pulido and his wife and business partner, Gergana, purchased the home, they did so with the vision of raising their soon-to-be family of four in the glass pavilion. “I wanted to find the place that was going to bring me back to the memories of my childhood—how wonderful it was to grow up in a place that taught me about democracy and freedom,” remarks Gonzalez-Pulido. Although emotion played a part in the duo’s decision to buy the home, the two are designers first and saw an architectural masterpiece that they simply couldn’t pass up. “My wife was really the interior designer of the home, and I was the contractor,” explains Gonzalez-Pulido. “I think this was actually beautiful because this is the way we work every day in our practice.” THE CHALLENGE The renovation held a host of obstacles for Gonzalez-Pulido, the majority of which centered on the use of different materials to make the house feel transparent and free-flowing. Gonzalez-Pulido hoped to bring the feeling of new materials into the home without losing the past and Grunsfeld’s original work. Much of the renovation was spent trying to find materials that were reflective without being shiny, from marble Clockwise from top left: Roche Bobois furniture makes the gran salon pop; a custom vanity and mirrored walls highlight the powder room; the kitchen boasts top-of-the-line Gaggenau appliances and vintage warming drawers; Ligne Roset furniture and works by artist Rhys Owens accent the projection room. Opposite page: The home’s understated exterior is in stunning contrast to the visual delights inside. A House of Glass INSPIRED BY HIS CHILDHOOD HOME, CHICAGO-BASED MASTER ARCHITECT FRANCISCO GONZALEZ-PULIDO EXECUTES A STUNNING RENOVATION OF A GLASS-CLAD 1967 PROPERTY JUST NORTH OF THE CITY. BY STELLA TIRONE, PHOTOGRAPHED BY RAFAEL GAMO michigan avenue 59 58 michigan avenue space HOME